How Pembroke Pines Handles Outdoor Lighting: A Practical Guide

Pembroke Pines maintains 116 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with outdoor lighting. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Pembroke Pines falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Dark Sky Rules

Pembroke Pines does not have a specific dark sky ordinance. Outdoor lighting is regulated through the Land Development Code Chapter 155 development standards for commercial and multi-family properties. No residential dark sky requirements exist beyond general nuisance provisions. Light trespass creating a nuisance may be addressed through Code Compliance.

Key details: Dark Sky Ordinance: None adopted. Commercial: LDC development standards apply. Residential: General nuisance standard. Electrical: FL Building Code permits required. Enforcement: Code Compliance for nuisance.

Lighting creating a nuisance may result in code enforcement action. Electrical work without permits violates building code.

The rules around dark sky rules in Pembroke Pines lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Light Trespass

Pembroke Pines addresses light trespass through general nuisance provisions rather than specific light trespass regulations. Outdoor lighting that unreasonably disturbs neighbors may be cited as a nuisance. The Land Development Code contains lighting standards for commercial development. No specific lux or footcandle limits exist for residential light trespass.

Key details: Specific Ordinance: None for light trespass. Standard: General nuisance evaluation. Commercial: LDC spillover standards apply. Residential: Case-by-case review. Civil Remedies: Available for disputes.

Lighting creating a demonstrable nuisance may result in code enforcement action on a case-by-case basis.

Pembroke Pines is more permissive than most cities when it comes to light trespass. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Pembroke Pines gives residents more room on outdoor lighting. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Pembroke Pines's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.